Meaning
The operational and administrative delays that occur during the negotiation and closing of a business transaction can slow down or jeopardize the completion of the agreement. This transaction deal friction is often caused by missing documentation, disorganized records, or disagreements over contract terms. It represents a real cost in both administrative attention and lost opportunity.
Closing Delay
The time required to finalize a transaction increases when information is difficult to locate. To minimize transaction deal friction, founders should organize all corporate and financial records long before entering negotiations. This preparation ensures that due diligence proceeds smoothly and avoids last-minute requests that can stall the process.
This administrative readiness demonstrates professional management and helps build confidence between the negotiating parties.
Audit Burden
Incomplete records lead to increased scrutiny from buyers or investors. When transaction deal friction is high, the buyer’s team must spend more hours verifying the seller’s claims. This extended audit raises the costs of the transaction for both parties and can lead to a renegotiation of the purchase price.
Diligence Cost
The resources expended to complete the transaction grow as the process is prolonged. When a company suffers from high transaction deal friction, it pays more in legal and advisory fees. This expense represents a drain on the firm’s capital.